According
to Mazda, the Japanese company spent three times as much on
its facelift for the Mazda 6 as it normally does on
so-called "model development".

While the Mazda 6 was launched with very much a sports sedan
theme, Mazda-Think now has it that the car needed more in
the way of "refined maturity". This applied as
much to the looks as to mechanical and structural changes.

The headlights have been given black bezils for a more
up-market look, and new alloy wheels distinguish the
face-lifted model. The rear bumper also came in for a
redesign and in our book, the subtle boot spoiler is
preferable to the high-mounted sports spoiler.

Sedans like the Mazda 6 just may be making a comeback, as
enthusiastic drivers rediscover the joys of dynamic,
low-slung handling.

The Mazda 6 has reasonable space for five, and in 2,3 litre
Dynamic form, leather upholstery is standard, as are
programmable electric seats.

Much of the re-development budget went into engine changes.

The two-litre version has received a healthy nine-kilowatt
boost thanks to numerous electro-mechanical up-grades.

The 2,3 litre four fitted to the test car retains its 122
kilowatt power peak, but the torque band has been smoothed
out in the 2300 rev range.

The Mazda body has more rigidity, new coil springs,
stabilisers and revised dampers for a precise ride.

The original Mazda 6 raked up 107awards internationally,
thanks to an engine and handling package that was already
crisp and energetic.

One of the short-comings in the 2003 spec version, though,
was that the automatic transmission option was a rather
old-fashioned four-speeder. Our 2,3 litre test car had the
new five-speeder.

The so-called Active-Matic transmission has more electronic
interfaces in its design, and while it has less noticeable
torque-converter slippage than the old "box", it
probably suffers more at Reef altitude, where the engine
could do with a bit more torque.

The four-speed version was rated at a sub ten-second 0 - 100
and a 215 km/h top speed.

We estimate that the new model will be very close in
performance, as the essential power, torque and body-mass
figures on the new 2,3 are largely unchanged.

On the safety features front, the Mazda is loaded with
numerous active electronic aids, and six airbags

Mazda6 2.3 Dynamic AT

Engine:
Four-cylinder petrol, 2 261 cc

Power: 122 kW @ 6
500 rpm

Torque: 207 Nm @
4 000 rpm

Transmission:
Five-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive

0-100 km/h: 9,6
seconds

Top speed: 215
km/h

Fuel consumption:
12,2 litres/100 km (estimated)

Price: R R233 990

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